Sporting Life's Sky Bet Championship Preview

It’s been a season full of twists and turns, and that was evident once again last week as 60 seconds changed the automatic promotion picture.

At one point, Sheffield United leading against Bristol City and Millwall being ahead against Leeds put the Blades four points clear.

However, by the end of it, Leeds were two points clear of their rivals. City scored in the 83rd minute to make it 3-2 at Bramall Lane, while Pablo Hernandez’s goal ensured the same scoreline in Leeds’ favour at Elland Road.

Remarkably, the fixture list has worked out that Leeds and Sheffield United will have the same opponents in the same venues over the next two fixtures.

Leeds will be wanting to extend the gap which sees them in the automatic promotion spots as they go to Birmingham. The Blues looking to snap a five-game losing run.

Garry Monk’s side are now in a battle to avoid the drop but the current five-point advantage they have over 22nd might be enough to keep them clear.

Leeds managed to bounce back from defeat to Sheffield United before the international break with that win over Millwall, and they’ll be hoping the fact that they have the third-best away record in the division will put them in a good place here.

For the Blades, they head to play-off chasing Preston. North End suffered defeat at the hands of Reading last weekend, ending a 12-game unbeaten run for Alex Neil’s side.

United have managed to pick up points in their last five away games though, which sets this up to be a game that could go either way.

Current leaders Norwich are closing in on a Premier League return as they sit seven points clear of third.

Daniel Farke’s side can, in all honesty, start planning for life in the top-flight now given their current position and form. They’ve won their last seven, with just one defeat in their last ten.

They host struggling QPR next, who are without a manager after the sacking of Steve McClaren in midweek.

Bristol City have managed to halt their slump, with victories over Sheffield United and Middlesbrough firing them back into fifth in the league.

Lee Johnson’s side had gone six games without victory prior to their trip to South Yorkshire, four of those games ending in defeat.

However, back-to-back wins against good opposition has put them in a strong position, and they’ll be hopeful of moving further into the play-offs as they take on Wigan next.

Another one of the division’s form sides is Aston Villa. Five victories in a row has moved them into the play-off positions, one point clear of Derby in seventh.

They come up against former manager Steve Bruce this weekend as they travel to Hillsborough to take on Sheffield Wednesday.

The Owls hold play-off aspirations of their own and victory here could move them to within a point of the top-six.

One of the sides who look certain for a top-six finish this season is West Brom. The Baggies have won their last three and sit in fourth on 70 points.

A tricky test away at Millwall awaits them next. Neil Harris’ men side are a single point above the drop zone and will be looking for their first home win in four games.

One side still in the play-off mix is Middlesbrough, despite the fact that they have lost their last five games.

Their away form has been better than their home form though, which could put them in a good position as they travel to take on Swansea.

The Swans are a side who do prefer home comforts. They are unbeaten in their last six league games at the Liberty Stadium, winning four of those.

Derby will be looking to build upon their 6-1 win over Rotherham last time out as they visit Brentford.

Despite the Bees sitting in 13th, they hold the sixth best home record and have won eight of their last ten in all competitions at Griffin Park.

For Rotherham, they face Nottingham Forest who have experienced mixed form in recent weeks.

The Millers have picked up points in three of their last four home games, while Forest are waiting for their first win in ten away league games.

Two sides who won last time out meet as Hull host Reading. The Tigers are unbeaten in their last ten at home, which has played its part in helping them become play-off outsiders.

The Royals did win in their recent away game at Ipswich though, following that up with a draw at Stoke.

The Potters have now drawn their last four games 0-0. They’ll be hoping that they can grab a goal and a win when they visit Blackburn.

Just a point separates the two sides in the standings, with both also seeing just one win in their last eight games.

Elsewhere, the bottom two meet as Bolton take on Ipswich. Wanderers won last time out, while Ipswich have picked up points in three of their last four.

Report: Bolton Wanderers 1-2 Ipswich Town

Bolton Wanderers were defeated by Ipswich Town 2-1 in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday afternoon, with a brace coming for Tractor Boys striker Collin Quaner.

Team News

Manager Phil Parkinson named an unchanged starting eleven and bench from the side that defeated Queens Park Rangers last time out in the Sky Bet Championship.

First Half

This game didn’t start with too many chances, with a Myles Kenlock delivery into the area finding Collin Quaner in the area but defender Mark Beevers was able to avert the threat away from goal.

Wanderers responded with a Pawel Olkowski free kick, as the Pole floated a ball into the Ipswich penalty area that Beevers couldn’t direct towards Bartosz Bialkowski’s net.

Sammy Ameobi nearly had the Whites ahead on 25 minutes, as a Gary O’Neil corner kick was nodded back across goal from Will Buckley, into the path of the Nigerian.

As he got the ball out of his feet, the tricky winger tried a back heel that looked to be goal bound until a Tractor Boys defender blocked his effort on goal.

However, with 34 minutes on the clock, Ipswich went ahead.

Skipper Luke Chambers produced a pinpoint delivery onto the head of Collin Quaner, with the German nodding home from seven yards.

It nearly became a two goal deficit from the restart, as an Andre Dozzell cross-field ball to Alan Judge allowed the Irishman to hit a snapshot from just inside the box, stinging the gloves of Remi Matthews.

Chances were at a premium for Wanderers, with Ameobi coming close with a half volley that was blocked by on onrushing Ipswich defender.

With a minute to go until the break, Ipswich doubled their lead.

Collin Quaner was allowed to turn on the edge of the area and get away a shot that deflected off the post and into the back of the net for his second goal of the afternoon.

Second Half

Wanderers started the second half brighter, with Will Buckley latching onto a Pawel Olkwoski cross with a volley, but his driven shot into the floor didn’t hit the target.

Ameobi came close soon after, with a deflected driven strike at Bialkowski’s goal not troubling the towering goalkeeper.

Luca Connell provided a corner ball into the danger zone that Mark Beevers headed down into the six yard area, with Sammy Ameobi just out of reach of tapping the ball into the goal.

David Wheater made a gut busting run through the centre of the pitch to get on the end of an Ameobi through ball which went out for a corner.

The eventual set play was sent to the back post and cleared out only as far as second half substitute Erhun Oztumer.

The playmaking midfielder unleashed a brutal volley that had Bialkowski struggling to save the original effort, before claiming at the second chance.

Wanderers did find a goal in injury time, after a cross into the area deflected in off an Ipswich Town defender and petered just over the line.

Heading into the final two minutes of added time and Wanderers tried to get back into the clash against Paul Lambert’s men, but it wasn’t to be as the final whistle went.

Season Ticket Holder Direct Debit Payees

Bolton Wanderers Football Club can confirm that *all 2018/19 season ticket holders who pay for their season ticket via Direct Debit, that their season cards will be valid for entry to the University of Bolton Stadium, for Saturday’s fixture with Ipswich Town and next Tuesday evening’s fixture with Middlesbrough.

*It must be made clear however, that any season ticket holder who is in arrears with their payments up to and including 29th March 2019 will not be valid for entry to the stadium, unless their account is brought up to date.

The club will confirm a date in due course with regards to collecting monies for the delayed scheduled payment for the month of April 2019.